Ready access wiring duct



1964 H. E. WELLENS ETAL 3,161,722

READY ACCESS WIRING DUCT Filed Feb; 15, 1963 f/flffYEDMFD WEL LENS FOBEPT'MrQAT/N INVENTORS BY Jam y w g United States Patent 3,161,722 READY ACCESS WIRING DUCT Harry Edward Wellens, Wayne, Pa., and Robert Martin, Ridgewood, N.I., assignors to (Ms Elevator Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Iersey Filed Feb. I3, 1963, Ser. No. 258,293 4 Ciaims. (Cl. 174-461) This invention relates generally to wireways, and more particularly to closable ducts and similar enclosures, which may be especially used in connection with the accommodation and protection of wires and other lengthy cableshaped articles.

Enclosures of the aforesaid type may be of considerable length and are generally installed in factories and like buildings along walls and in particular on hoistway Walls of elevators.

Heretofore, it was usual to thread lengthy wires, conductors and like articles through pipes for disposition therein, which pipes may have various diameters throughout the length of the pipe installation depending on the number of wires used for each of the elevator floors of a building.

It was also conventional to employ instead of pipes lengthy casings of angular configuration with end flange connections, which however, were difiicult to install and offered many inconveniences for the accommodation of cables, wires and like conductors and their accessibility.

The present invention overcomes the aforesaid and other drawbacks encountered by the prior art and contemplates the provision of means affording convenient installation of wires, conductors and the like and their protection against damage, lengthy enclosures therefor being proposed, which are of sturdy construction, have substantially smooth inner surfaces to avoid injury to the insulating layer of wires and are provided with removable cover means for easy and substantially unobstructed access to the interior of such enclosures.

It is another object of the invention to provide means facilitating coupling or interconnection of sectional enclosures of the aforesaid type for assembly purposes and easy handling thereof, whereby cost of installation at the site may be kept to a minimum and repair and removal or addition of wires with respect to the completed installation of this kind may be carried out swiftly, safely and even by unskilled labor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means leading to the set up of a rigid, multisectional troughing construction with substantially flush outer surfaces, and eliminating complicated fittings heretofore used for lead-in wires.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means conducive to inexpensive mass production of troughing structures from galvanized sheet metal and other desirable material and to conveniently afiix such troughing struc tures to walls of elevator hoistways and of machine rooms.

It is still another object of this invention to provide means implementing the installation of trough-shaped ducts of the aforesaid type with a coupling part extending from the lower and/ or from the upper end of each of the troughing sections and to provide further means affording I 3,161,722 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 "ice open fronts of the enclosure sections for completing the sectional troughing installation.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of means contributing to an orderly and sightly arrangement of the wires in the trough or duct structure in which the disposition of spaced apart straining points in accordance with the weight of the wires may be readily taken into account.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of means envisioning an elongated angle-shaped casing or like enclosure for the insertion of wires, conductors and the like at full length and transversely of the longitudinal center axis of the enclosure, which is of improved esthetic outer conformation and of greatly simplified structure carrying prepunched wall openings to be easily and readily employable for the attachment to a support and for the accommodation of lead-in and leadout wires generally used in elevator and like installations.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the above, from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective and exploded view of a multi-sectional angle-shaped wire or conductor enclosure embodying the invention, the enclosure being supported by a hoistway wall and being shown with parts broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of the enclosure, as shown in FIGURE 1, parts being broken away for claritys sake, while the cover for the coupling is illustrated in the stage of being applied to its complementary base member for assembly purposes;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a detail, the section being taken along line 3-3 of.

FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, showing the position of one enclosure section coupled with another enclosure section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing there has been disclosed an angular troughing structure-10 composed of a plurality of trough sections 11, 110, etc., which are shown in the process of being coupled to each other in a manner about to be described.

Each trough or duct section may be of equal length and made of any suitable metal or plastic material, e.g. galvanized sheet metal, which is angle-shaped, that is, has a generally L-shaped cross section, as shown and comprises a base member 20 and a cover member 20, the latter consisting, in this instance, of two cover parts 20a, 26b (FIGURE 1). Base member 20 has two rectangular walls 12, 13 which are connected to each other along a common longitudinal edge and terminate in longitudinal,

Angular-shaped cover cover member are removably attached to said flanges by means of bayonet connections, in which screws 16, 17 In order to avoid that the somewhat are employed. pointed ends of screws I6, 17 directly contact wires 25 when located within the wireway or duct section, pairs of dimples or bosses 18a, 13b and 19a, 1% are provided in flanges 14a, 15a at either side of screw threaded openings 16a, 17a, respectively.

through slotted openings 14b, 15b of cover walls 14, '15 and arethreaded into openings Ida, 17a of flanges 14a, 15a, so that the ends of said screws 16, 17 will not project forwardly of said bosses 18a, 18b and I961, 19b and are In applied condition of the cover member on the base member 26) screws 16, 17 are passed thereby prevented from contact with said wires within the assembled duct sections.

Each duct section is provided at one of its extremities with a hollow free end 26 and at its other extremity with an end portion 2e. To this latter portion is separately or integrally connected a coupling or connector element 22 which is recessed with respect to the base member end portion 26a and, in this instance, consists of an angle-shaped coupling base member 23 and a complementary cover member 24 shaped for overlap engagement with said coupling base member. Coupling base member 23 and cover 24 are dimensioned for slidably engaging the hollow free end 26 of a further duct section, say 11b (FIGURES l and 4). Coupling base member 23 may be secured to base member by spotwelding, as at 27, whereby a collar 23a forming part of the coupling element 22 projects a predetermined distance beyond the respective end portion 26a for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The outer surfaces of the projecting collar 23a are shaped to be tightly engaged by the inner end surfaces 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b of the wall portions defining the hollow free end 26 of the respective base member of a duct section (FIG. 4) for coupling purposes. Flange portions 28, 29 of coupling base member 23 and corresponding walls 30, 31 of coupling cover 24 are provided with complementary fastening means 46-49 as later referred to (FIG. 2), so that cover 24 may be firmly seated on base member 23. In this assembly of coupling base member 23 with cover 24, edge 30a of cover 24 comes to lie adjacent or against edge 26b of end portion 26a of base member 26', whereas edge 31a of cover 24 extends substantially contiguous to edge 260 of end portion 26a, as itis well understood. Thus on projecting flange portions 28, 29 there are formed substantially rectangular-shaped areas 33, 34 with which corresponding surface portions 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b located at the free end 26 of duct section 11b may be slidably and guidingly engaged (FIGURE 1). Section 11b in such coupled condition with section 11a may also abut with the respective end edges of bottom wall 12, side wall 13, of flanges 14a, 15a and of cover walls 14, 15 with the uppermost end edge 26d of end portion 26a of section 11a, as may be visualized from FIGURE 1.

Each section 11, 11a, 111), etc., is closable at its open front end, as shown with respect to section 11a, by means of two successive'sectional cover parts 2%, 2% as hereinabove referred to. Walls 14, 15 of each cover part is provided with pairs of double key-hole shaped openings 14b, 15b which are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and are arranged opposite and aligned with each other. It will be apparent that after having inserted wires at full length from the open front 20" into the wireway or 'troughing assembly, all that'has-to be done to close the same is to apply and slide the cover parts 20a, 20b in upward or downward lengthwise direction (as the case may be) with respect to base member 20 of the respective sections 11 or 11a, 11b, etc., so that either of their key-hole parts 14c, 15c or14d, 15d engages the stems of screws 16, 17 which project with their heads beyond flanges 14a, 15a in outwardly direction. These key-hole par-ts communicate with corresponding transverse open-ended passageways 7 He and 15e to facilitate engagement of the stems ofv screws 16, 17 with the respective slotted key-hole parts 140, 150 or 14d, 15d, as the case may be, so that the screw bolt heads Will overlie walls 14 and 15.

As can be readily visualized when unthreading or loosening screws 16, 1'7 and upon suitably sliding cover parts 20a, 20b of cover 20 in up-or downward direction the cover parts may be taken off the base member 20,

so that the open frontal end 20" will be exposed and becomes accessible for the insertion of wires at full length. These Wires 25 may be preliminarily retained in their positions in the interior of base member 2%) by the flange portions 14a, 15a, even if they are of reduced height. Finally the wires may be tied against bottom wall 12 of base member 20' by means of tie straps 32, as indicated in FIGURE 2, which, in this case, are threaded through suitable slots or openings 37 provided in wall 12, as shown. Bottom Wall 12 is further provided with elongated perforations or openings 38 (one being shown in FIGURE 2) through which screw bolts 39 or like anchoring means may be passed. These elongated openings facilitate connection of the sections of structure 10 with hoistway wall 4% as indicated in FIGURE 1. This type of connection takes readily into account any compression forces imparted to building walls and to the wireway installation.

Bottom wall 12 of the base member may further carry circuit connector means 45 of known construction which are attached to wall 12 by means of screws 41. Circuit connector 45 is equipped with connector or bus bars 42, 43 from which wires may be branched off and passed through suitable openings or passageways 44 which are prepunched in side wall 13 of base member 20', as indicated in FIGURE 2 for a purpose well known in the art.

As seen from FIGURES 2 and 3, cover 24 of the coupling element 22 may be readily snapped onto coupling portion 23 by forced insertion of struck-out tongues 46, 47 into corresponding openings 48, 49 provided in the flanges 29, 28 as more clearly depicted in FIGURE 3, where struck-out tongue 46 is shown to have passed opening 48 to grip behind rear face 29a of flange 29 as shown.

When coupling 0r connector cover 24 is fitted on coupling base member 23 (FIGURE 1) all that has to be done thereafter is to slide the next section, say section 11b, with its corresponding hollow free end 26 formed by base member 20' and cover 20a onto the aforesaid as sembled coupling or connector 22, whereby the outer or exposed wall surfaces of section 11b extend substantially flush with the outer wall surfaces of assembled sections 11 and 11a. This telescoped but tight fitting assembly leads to an esthe'tically well shaped duct or enclosure installation 10, which due to its connection with hoistwaywall 40 by means of elongated openings 38 and bolts 39 additionally takes into account the effects of any compression forces exerted on the hoistway wall 40.

Due to the fact that base member covers 20 and coupling covers 24 may be readily removed from their corresponding base members 20' and 23 by the simple use of a screw driver, the installation 10 may be opened up in part or completely as desired, without any difiiculties and provides ready access to the interior at the front end 20", as the clearance space or distance 50 between the bounding frontal end edges 50a, Sub of the flanges 14a, 15a is so chosen that the hand of an operator can readily be inserted and manipulated without injury to the skin of his hand. Besides this, any loose wires within the interior of the open structure are prevented from falling out, as the flange portions 14a, 15a sufficiently retain the wires or conductors in the angle-shaped troughing or base member 26. Not only the exterior, but also the interior of the novel enclosure installation (FIG. 4)

is kept substantially completely free from any sharp projections or edges, so that injury to the insulationlayers of various wires is effectively avoided, WlJlCh wlres may be inserted in orderly and slightly fashion from the open.

front end and in transversedirection to the longitudinal axis of the installation. 7

It is well understood that any number of straining points 37 for the Wiring may be used by providing spaced apart and suitably distributed tie members 32, so that the Weight of the wires may be taken up bythem.

It has been found in practice to employ sectional casing or duct structures with base member lengths of about 10 feet on which two sectional cover parts each 5 feet long are fitted in overlapping relation for closing each casing.

section.

The distance between the end edges of the flanges extending from each base member should amount to about 2.75 to 3 inches in order to provide sufiicient clearance space for conveniently manipulating and placing wires and like lengthy articles at full length from the open front end or in sidewise fashion into the base members either mounted upright on a hoistway wall or in a horizontal direction along a wall.

The bottom and side walls of each base member section and, if necessary, the walls of the corresponding cover member also may be provided with rows of premarked or prepunched slots or perforations to facilitate various lead-in and lead-out wire arrangements without weakening in any substantial manner the casing or troughing structure itself.

The construction of coupling or connector elements separate from or integral with the troughing members results in a durable and rugged duct assembly of esthet-ic appearance, the installation of which generally starts at the bottom of an elevator hoistway and ensures the required electrical grounding for wire installations.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided according to the invention a novel wireway arrangement for wires and similar conductors of relatively great length, having as essential features a plurality of elongated sectional duct means and coupling means therefor, each sectional duct means having a base member 20' terminating in extremities 26, 26a and in frontal longitudinal end edges a, 50b, which define an uninterrupted longitudinal clearance space. Each of said coupling means 23a includes a coupling base member 23 terminating in spaced apart frontal end edges at flanges 28, 29 defining thereat an uninterrupted clearance space, said clearance spaces being aligned and in communication with each other in assembled condition of said duct means and of said coupling means. Each of the aforesaid couplings 23a projects from the one extremity 26a of each base member 20 therebeyond, so that a shoulder at 26d is formed with respect to the coupling base member, as the latter is disposed at a stepped down location with respect to the one extremity 26a. The said coupling means is in the form of a collar of reduced dimensions, as seen in FIGURES l and 2. This collar thus facilitates slidable interconnection of one sectional duct means 11 with another sectional duct means 11a, etc. The aforesaid aligned uninterrupted clearance spaces of said duct means and of said coupling means are closable by cover means adapted to be mounted on the same, whereby upon removal of said cover means an uninterrupted elongated channel structure of trough formation is exposed which provides unimpeded access to the interior thereof, so that the operators hand may be moved in crosswise direction of the elongated and open channel structure to place wires at full length thereinto, which then run lengthwise of the channel structure.

In the event that the coupling base member 23 is made integral with the respective base member 20' the end edge 26d of the latter must form a shoulder, as the cross-section of the duct member is of somewhat larger dimension than that of the coupling member. The cover for both said duct member and said coupling member is then shaped accordingly, so that positive and slidable interconnection of one extremity of one sectional duct means with the other free extremity, say, 26, of the following sectional duct means 11b may be had via said coupling means, so that the latter duct means may abut against the shoulder 26d of sectional duct means 11a in assembled condition. When these covers' are removed from all duct means and coupling means an uninterrupted, elongated open, trough-shaped and fittingless channel structure is exposed and useable for the same purpose as hereinabove stated.

Other suitable connection means known per se, e.g. ribs and grooves etc. than those herein disclosed may be employed to removably attach the cover or cover parts to their base members.

As changes can be made in the above described construction and many apparently difi'erent embodiments of this invention can be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown on the accompanying drawing be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A section for a multi-section wireway, comprising,

an elongated base member having a generally L-shaped cross section and including first and second relatively narrow inwardly extending flanges integral therewith,

said first flange extending at a right angle from the end of the base portion of the L parallel to and in the direction of the stem portion of the L,

said second flange extending at a right angle from the end of the stem portion of the L parallel to and in the direction of the base portion of the L,

said narrow flanges defining an opening into said base member which is wider than the width of either the base portion or the stem portion of said L-shaped base member,

elongated cover means having an L shaped cross section, and

means removably fastening said cover means to said flanges.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said last named means comprises a plurality of screws passing through apertures in said cover means and engaging corresponding threaded apertures in said flanges, and

a plurality of inwardly extending dimples formed in said flanges, one on each side of each of said threaded apertures.

3. A section for a multi-section wireway, comprising,

an elongated base member having a generally L-shaped cross section and including first and second relatively narrow inwardly extending flanges integral therewith,

said first flange extending at a right angle from the end of the base portion of the L parallel to and in the the direction of the base portion of the L,

said second flange extending at a right angle from the end of the stem portion of the Lparallel to and in the direction of the base portion of the L,

said narrow flanges defining an opening into said base member which is wider than the width of either the base portion or the stem portion of said L-shaped base member,

elongated cover means having an L-shaped cross section removably secured to said base member over said flanges, whereby when said cover means is in place there is formed an elongated passageway of substantially rectangular cross section,

a coupling element having a length short compared to that of said base and said cover means and comprising first and second portions,

said first portion having a generally L-shaped cross section and including two inwardly extending flanges similar to the flanges on said base member,

the dimensions of said first portion being selected to fit within one end of said base member,

said first portion being positioned partially within and partially without said base member and permanently fastened thereto,

said second portion comprising a cover member having an L-shaped cross section, and

means removably fastening said second portion to said flanges of said first portion.

4. A multi-section wireway, comprising,

a first section having first and second ends and defining an elongated passageway of substantially rectangular cross section, said first section comprising an elongated base member having a generally L-shaped cross section and including first and second narrow inwardly extending flanges integral therewith,

said first flange extending at a right angle from the end of the base portionof the L parallel to and in the direction of the stem portion of the L,

said second flange extending at a right angle from the end of the stem portion of the L parallel to and in the direction of the base portion of the L,

said narrow flanges defining an opening into said base member which is wider than the width of either the base portion or the stem portion of said L-shaped base member,

an elongated cover means having an L-shaped cross section removably secured to said base member over said flanges, whereby when said cover means is in place there is formed an elongated passageway,

a coupling element having a length short compared to that of said base member and said cover means and comprising first and second portions,

said first portion having a generally L-shaped cross section and including two inwardly extending flanges similar to the flanges on said base member,

the dimensions of said first portion being selected to fit within said first end of said base member,

said first portion being positioned partially within and 8 partially withoutsaid base member and permanently fastened thereto,

said second portion comprising a cover member having an L-shaped cross section,

means removably fastening said second portion to said first portion, and

a plurality of additional sections each identical to said first section and each positioned with its second end embracing the protruding portion of the coupling element attached to the preceding section, whereby a continuous elongated wireway with removable covers is formed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,189,208 Hodkinson June 27, 1916 1,813,331 Wadsworth July 7, 1931 2,917,083 Duvall et a1 Dec. 15, 1959 2,985,710 Davis et al May 23, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 660,919 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1951 

1. A SECTION FOR A MULTI-SECTION WIREWAY, COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED BASE MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY L-SHAPED CROSS SECTION AND INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND RELATIVELY NARROW INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES INTEGRAL THEREWITH, SAID FIRST FLANGE EXTENDING AT A RIGH ANGLE FROM THE END OF THE BASE PORTION OF THE L PARALLEL TO AND IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STEM PORTION OF THE L SAID SECOND FLANGE EXTENDING AT A RIGHT ANGLE FROM THE END OF THE STEM PORTION OF THE L PARALLEL TO AND IN THE DIRECTION OF THE BASE PORTION OF THE L, SAID NARROW FLANGES DEFINING AN OPENING INTO SAID BASE MEMBER WHICH IS WIDER THAN THE WIDTH OF EITHER THE BASE PORTION OR THE STEM PORTION OF SAID L-SHAPED BASE MEMBER, ELONGATED COVER MEANS HAVING AN L SHAPED CROSS SECTION, AND 